Canadian coffee chain lured to Batavia by tax breaks
Submitted by Howard Owens on August 11, 2009 - 5:34pm
A Canadian-based coffee chain is planning a location on Court Street with a "European style" formula, and the company is getting tax breaks that helped entice it to Batavia, according to an announcement by GCEDC today.
Coffee Culture stands to save $37,200 in taxes on its new equipment and building improvements to 6 Court St., and the company is also seeking property tax exemptions on the increased value the remodeled property will garner.
It's a program, according to GCEDC's Chad Zambito, that is available to any business, local or out of the area, that is investing at least $50,000 in its start up.
Ken Mistler, who is opening a coffee shop at Main and Jackson, declined the same assistance primarily because the timing of the process did not match Mistler's plans, Zambito said. Mistler was unavailable for comment this afternoon.
Coffee Culture plans to spend $330,000 to renovate the 2,500-square-foot location and turn it into a "high end" cafe and eatery. Initially, the business will be corporate-operated, but will be available to a potential franchise operator. It will offer free wi-fi, a plasma TV and meeting space.
Besides gourmet coffee, the chain offers breakfast and lunch sandwiches and desserts.
Zambito gave full credit to Don Burkel at the BID for getting GCEDC involved in the process of recruiting Coffee Culture to Batavia.
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August 12, 2009 - 9:13am
#2
Coffee shop! Give the money to a supermarket. Thats what downtown needs!!!
August 12, 2009 - 9:22am
#3
Posted by Donna Jackett on August 12, 2009 - 9:13am
Coffee shop! Give the money to a supermarket. Thats what downtown needs!!!
A supermarket would make more sense.
Hopefully they are working on luring one to downtown.
August 12, 2009 - 9:29am
#4
yes because Tops and Walmart and Aldi's are so far away...
August 12, 2009 - 9:33am
#5
They are Peter if you don't drive.
August 12, 2009 - 9:37am
#6
The city couldn't support them before why would they be able to now?
August 12, 2009 - 9:49am
#7
Great, their giving another SILLY tax break to a business from a different country?? So much for Ken Mistler's coffee shop, and local businesses. At whos expence will this tax break be given?? Give Me A Coffee Break.{TEEHEE} We have enough coffee shops in our town. Does the city have an excess of money, they need to spend?? Or what is the deal. Can someone explain this for me please, as we know Im not read in politics, and thats what this is right? a political move?,or Wrong. UGGG Peter, Enlighten me Please...
August 12, 2009 - 10:03am
#8
I'm not for tax breaks for any business, nor am I for corporate taxes. Remove both, since they benefit from one and don't pay the other.
August 12, 2009 - 10:04am
#9
Tax breaks are one of the only ways to entice businesses to set up shop here in good ol' New York State.
August 12, 2009 - 10:17am
#10
When you have to give out tax breaks it must mean your taxes are to high to begin with.....Wow 3 new low paying wage jobs for Batavia..Thanks GCEDC..Can i get a tax break for improving my property...
August 12, 2009 - 10:21am
#11
Depends on what you do Mark, make "green" changes and you can....
August 12, 2009 - 10:24am
#12
Good ole Don Burkel, must really think he's doing a great job. Yea right! He has been so busy getting all these businesses in town. Oh, thats right, we have the big summer in the city, I mean summer in the antique car show down Main St. coming up next weekend. He should take lessons from some other towns. I would love to know what he does all day.
August 12, 2009 - 10:45am
#13
A real super market like WEGMANS, that would draw people downtown.
August 12, 2009 - 10:47am
#14
That would require space that is generally not available in downtown Batavia. Wegmans only builds huge stores now.
August 12, 2009 - 11:03am
#15
Wegman's wouldn't fit the character of downtown.
And living near downtown now, I find Tops extremely inconvenient for quick shopping trips when I just need a few things. Aldis is a little easier, but something in the location of Latinas would be wonderful.
Why does it have to be a chain?
There are communities all across the country that have found themselves with empty retail space downtown and they've formed cooperatives and created community owned supermarkets and variety stores.
Not every solution comes from big government or big corporations. Some of the best solutions come from people in their own hometowns.
August 12, 2009 - 11:08am
#16
What about doing a daily farmer's market downtown in one of the shopping centers? Bring in dairy, meat, and crop farmers. Could bring in crafts and other home-made goods, such as jams, jellies, candles, honey, jewelery.
Granted the hours would have to be conducive to people actually going...
August 12, 2009 - 11:19am
#17
Along those lines, Chelsea, I've wondered why not allow vendor booths during the spring, summer and fall along the Main Street side of the Mall. A hot dog stand, a taco stand, various small merchant stands, a newsstand, free wi-fi and some outside seating. Make up for the lack of Main Street exposure for those businesses. ... carts on wheels could roll inside the mall on rainy days.
August 12, 2009 - 11:44am
#18
Chelsea Great idea...Maybe model it after the Broadway Market in Buffalo..Food vendors of all types rent space inside the Jubilee building all year long..
August 12, 2009 - 11:49am
#19
When I lived in Germany there was this inside market with all types of food vendors inside. Mostly it was "ethnic" food, but there were also smaller vendors selling farm-fresh honey and things. Their farmer's market was so fantastic, anything you needed could be found.
Speaking of which, is there a bakery in Batavia?
August 12, 2009 - 12:00pm
#20
As a baker's son, I'll answer the question: There is no bakery. I believe this is the first place I've ever lived with no bakery.
August 12, 2009 - 12:04pm
#21
I'm saddened by the fact that there is no bakery (and Tops does not count!). If you want some fantastic fresh bread and goodies, Greece has a great public market on Saturday mornings at the Greece Mall. There is a baker who shows up, and his breads and things are still warm!
I guess I'll have to make my own bread and rolls for the holidays.
August 12, 2009 - 12:14pm
#22
Chelsea,
I like that idea as well! My wife and I also lived in Germany! One of the things we loved was the abilty to go down and get fresh everything in the local Meinplatz everyday! It was great food and it was all small businesses which I just loved.
I've always saw the Latina's building as something else, but I think a Broadway Market type venue would just be awesome!
August 12, 2009 - 6:02pm
#23
Howard.. i thought cookies n cream in the mall was a bakery...
August 12, 2009 - 6:40pm
#24
There have been bakeries before on Main, Ellicott and side streets and they did not make it.
As for a supermarket downtown again, you can bet the building owner would love to get that place rented out again. But like Peter said, the others did not make it. You have Aldi’s, Wal Mart, Tops and even Target. Thrown in the two type dollar stores and just how many do you think a small town can support?
August 12, 2009 - 7:30pm
#25
There was a Pelligrinos bakery on liberty for awhile and u had to order your breads in advance.
